Always Better

Ecclesiastes 4:^9&12 “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”

Our fourth lesson from Caleb is You Cannot Become A General Without First Serving As A Scout. Generals are first scouts. The fifth lesson is We Are Better Together. When you read the story of Caleb,

initially you will think that when Caleb was demanding for his mountain and declaring that he was able to go up and take it, that he alone went to fight. Caleb had a team, an army, a tribe. Caleb had several families that were aligned with him. What we see and learn from Caleb’s story is that we are actually better together. Joshua 15:¹⁴ “Caleb drove out the three groups of Anakites—the descendants of Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, the sons of Anak…” These were renowned giants. When the Bible says Caleb drove them out, he did not do it singlehandedly. Caleb led a group of people, a tribe that drove them out.

After taking Mount Hebron and the surrounding hill countries, there was a very juicy land on the south side of Hebron. It was the last one that was to be taken. Joshua 15:¹⁶ “Caleb said, “I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage to the one who attacks and captures Kiriath-Sepher.” It is important to mention that Caleb was solving multiple problems with this one thing. Caleb was saying, ‘I have boys, giant killers with me. I want to see who is rising up in the next generation. I want to see who will lead the onslaught and take Kiriath-Sepher. And I am going to give whoever does, my daughter Acsah.’

Joshua 15:¹⁷ “Othniel, the son of Caleb’s brother Kenaz, was the one who conquered it, so Acsah became Othniel’s wife.” (emphasis added). Othniel, Caleb’s brother’s son, had had his eyes on Caleb’s daughter so, he quickly rose to the challenge. Othniel and Acsah were cousins. What will happen today if cousins choose to get married? Where did we get that from? The West because it is not from the Bible. There are many things we swallow hook, line, and sinker from the West, that have nothing to do with God. Othniel had been eyeing Acsah, so he jumped forward. If you do not have feelings for a girl, you will not risk your life to fight giants that can kill you.

Contrast Caleb who demanded for his mountain, to Caleb who went with a group, to Caleb who even stood back and allowed a younger man to take a whole settlement. Caleb is sending us a very strong message, and it is that none of us is stronger than all of us, none of us is more anointed than all of us, and none of us is wiser than all of us.

Prayer: Father, I am grateful for the gift of people in my life. Help me also to be a gift to the people in my circle and leverage their strengths, in the Mighty Name of Jesus. Amen!